We’re so excited it’s Friday we’ve poured ourselves a glass of the semi-stale bubbles in the fridge. Here’s hoping it doesn’t give us alcohol poisoning.

MTA Advisors muse on Silverseas onboard inspection opportunity 

Pictured the group of MTA – Mobile Travel Agents invited to inspect Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse when the cruise ship docked in Brisbane as part of its maiden voyage to Australia.

The visit gave the MTA Advisors the opportunity to inspect the cruise ship’s facilities and also  experience a taste of the fine dining on offer while at sea with a lunch served in the aptly-named ‘Atlantide’ restaurant.

NSW and Tasmania-based MTA Advisors will also have the opportunity to experience the Silver Muse  when she docks in Sydney and Byrnie in coming days.

Pictured from left to right: Ian Morton; Marion Picot; Michelle Connolly; Geoff Houston;  MTA cruise & wholesale product manager, Rhona Rodgers; Wendy Gunther; Jonica Gilbert and Rachael Chartres.

New travel writing workshop in Melbourne

Love travelling? Love writing? Learn a specialised toolkit of writing and pitching techniques plus get detailed feedback on your writing. Join students who’ve been published in The Australian, Traveller, Escape, National Geographic Traveller, International Traveller and many more.

“Fantastic, inspiring, exciting, motivating. This kind of knowledge could take months, even years to establish on one’s own.” Annabelle S

When: Sun Feb 17, 2019 – 10am to 5pm

Where: Melbourne CBD

Cost: $399

How many: Only 12 places!!

For more details, visit www.robmcfarland.org or email rob@robmcfarland.org

Entire Travel Group Webinars

Entire Travel Group are inviting agents to join them on some informative webinars to learn more about their fabulous products and gain valuable knowledge and insights into their beautiful destinations.

France in small Escorted Tours, Thursday 24^th Jan @ 10am

New Caledonia New Hot spot for Australians , Thursday 31^st Jan @ 10am

Canada & Alaska – Deluxe Rockies and Alaska Cruise, Thursday 7^th Feb @ 10am

Agents can register directly on our website. Click here.

Club Med Welcomes 2019 with New Brochure, Resorts, and Travel Agent Loyalty Program

Premium all-inclusive resort brand, Club Med, has kicked-off another year with the release of a new and improved brochure, exciting resort news, and a teaser of what’s to come for the Great Agent Loyalty Program (GALP) in 2019.

View and download the brochure online: http://online.flipbuilder.com/tradesales.australia/tylq/mobile/index.html#p=1

Order print brochures: https://web.tifs.com.au/pa.php

Personal Travel Managers Experience Fine China

TravelManagers’ personal travel managers are renowned for their extensive travel experience – with an average of twenty years’ industry experience and a healthy addiction to travelling themselves, for many there are few parts of the globe they are not familiar with.  However, always happy to further extend their knowledge, twelve PTMs from around Australia eagerly signed up for a twelve-day famil to China, hosted by China Travel Service and flying with Air China.

Although the famil itinerary began in Beijing and ended in Shanghai and included quintessential Chinese experiences such as climbing a section of the Great Wall, visiting a silk-spinning mill and taking a night cruise in Shanghai, the focus was on leaving behind the larger cities and exploring China’s Shandong province.

After visiting key Beijing sites including the Great Wall, a jade-carving factory and the Olympic stadiums, the group headed southeast to the seaport city of Weihai, where they encountered the first of many unique highlights: visiting a Seagrass Tribe whose houses are constructed using seaweed for their roofs, and dining at a local restaurant in which they were the first group of westerners to have visited.

Travellers Choice agents deliver some life-saving Christmas cheer

Mudgee Travel & Cruise’s Glenn Box wrapped and dispatched two trucks full of Christmas ‘presents’ to struggling farmers in late December, all thanks to the generosity of his fellow Travellers Choice members and the retail group’s much valued industry partners.

Almost $12,000 was raised for Box’s charity 200BALES – set up last year to buy much-needed stock feed for drought-affected farmers in the NSW mid-west region – during the Travellers Choice Shareholders’ Conference in Cairns in early December. As well as member donations, suppliers such as The Africa Safari Co., U by Uniworld, Adventure World, Scenic and Swagman Tours all chipped in with cash and raffle prizes.

The hay bales purchased with the funds arrived in mid-December and three days before Christmas they were loaded onto two semi-trailers in Mudgee and delivered to local farmers. The whole process involved an army of volunteers – including Travellers Choice’s official mascot Trevor – who did everything from loading trucks to manning the BBQ.

Box says the rural families were hugely appreciative of the travel industry’s efforts, and the whole process perfectly demonstrated a key theme of Travellers Choice’s conference: ‘The Power of Connection’.

2018 Switzerland Travel Academy Winners Announced!

Switzerland Tourism has announced the remaining winners of the Switzerland Travel Academy for 2018.

They are Amanda McAllister from House of Travel St. Heliers Auckland, who took home a Victorinox INOX Watch; Krystal Rouge from Tempo Holidays Melbourne who won a Victorinox Carry-on suitcase; and Liz Light from Top Snow Travel Newport, who won a Westfield gift card. All of the prizes were valued at $500.

For more information, head to https://australia.switzerlandtravelacademy.ch.

TTC Weekly Deals 

INSIGHT VACATIONS

America’s Magnificent National Parks

For a limited time only, you can fly for $799 return to Canada & North America, when you book in conjunction with Insight Vacations’ 2019 USA and Canada trips. Enjoy this offer on the 15-day America’s Magnificent National Parks itinerary. This sprightly trip will have travellers experience North America’s most popular parks, historic monuments and scenic grandeur. From gliding through the narrow sandstone turns of Antelope Canyon to witnessing the sprouting geysers of Yellowstone and releasing your inner cowboy at the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West, you’ll take in some of America’s most iconic sights in a manner and at a pace that suits you. Starting from $8,774* per person AIR INCLUSIVE. This offer is on sale now until 15 February 2019, unless sold out prior. Valid on select departures only: 4, 11 May and 1 June – 31 August 2019. Other departure dates available however prices will vary. For more information or to book call 1300 727 767 or visit www.insightvacations.com *Conditions Apply.

TRAFALGAR

The Trailblazer

Clients can fly to the West Coast of the USA from $799 with Trafalgar’s latest Air Offer. Guests can enjoy this offer in conjunction with the 8 day The Trailblazer travel itinerary where they will see the golden, pink and yellow sunrise over the Grand Canyon, the red and lavender shades of the Painted Desert and Sedona’s red rock cliffs and buttes on this round trip from Las Vegas through the Grand Canyon National Park, Sedona, Monument Valley, Lake Powell and Zion National Park. Starting from $4,049* per person, twin share with flights starting from just $799 return! This offer is on sale now until 15 February 2019, for travel on selected 2019 departures for Trafalgar USA and Canada trips. For more information or to book call 1800 787 878 or visit www.trafalgar.com *Conditions Apply.

ADVENTURE WORLD TRAVEL

Jewels of the Mississippi

Save up to $730 per person on select 2019 departures including the 9 day Jewels of the Mississippi luxury river cruise itinerary. Guests will visit the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll – Memphis before boarding the American Queen riverboat on an unforgettable journey down America’s largest and most historical river, the Mississippi to New Orleans through Greenville, Vicksburg, Natchez, Baton Rouge and Nottoway. Starting from $4,615 * per person, twin share (savings included). This offer is on sale now until 31 March 2019 or when no valid cabins remain on select departures from May to December 2019. For more information or to book call 1300 363 055 or visit www.adventureworld.com *Conditions Apply.

AAT KINGS

Outback Adventure

Explore the best of Australia and New Zealand with AAT Kings Great Australian Sale. Your clients can save up to $1300 per couple on one of ten handpicked itineraries, including the 15 day Outback Adventure Guided Holiday. Guests will discover the legendary Australian Outback on this northbound journey from Adelaide through the Red Centre of Australia and onto the Top End. Venture through the iconic and varied landscapes of Outback Australia including the rugged Flinders Ranges, ancient Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the lush wetlands of Kakadu National Park.

Starting from $5,825* per person, twin share (savings included). This offer is on sale now until 15 March 2019 for select departures before 31 December 2019.For more information or to book call 1300 556 100 or visit www.aatkings.com *Conditions Apply.

UNIWORLD

Enchanting Danube

Uniworld’s Our Best Offer promotion has been extended! Clients can save up to 30% on select 2019 sailings when they book before 31 March 2019. Enjoy these savings on the 8 day Enchanting Danube luxury river cruise. Uniworld takes guests well beyond the “must-sees” of each region as they travel between Passau, Germany and Budapest, Hungary through Linz, Melk, Dürnstein, Vienna and Bratislava along the Danube river. Starting from $4,619* per person, twin share (including discount). This offer is on sale from now until 31 March 2019 for departures on 21 and 28 July, 4, 11 and 18 August. Other departure dates available, prices may vary. For more information or to book call 1300 780 231 or visit www.uniworld.com *Conditions apply.